All African Silver Coins

Explore All African Silver Coins Available from JM Bullion

The African continent is a burgeoning source of silver bullion coins. Outside of South Africa and the South African Mint, no other national mint exists that produces sovereign bullion or commemorative coins for other African nations. However, through partnerships with other global mints such as the Scottsdale Mint in the United States and the Bavarian State Mint in Germany, central banks across the continent have authorized the production of a growing number of beautiful silver coin collections. Now, you can learn all about the various African silver coins sold through JM Bullion.

Somali Silver

Aside from the South African Gold Krugerrand, the African Wildlife Series Elephant coin is the longest-running collection of African silver. The series launched in 1999 as the Zambia Elephant collection with only a 1 oz silver coin available. Beginning in 2004, the coin was rebranded as the Somalia Elephant and offered 1 oz silver and 1 oz gold options to investors. The collection has taken various steps forward over the years to increase the mintage of the series to match demand and provide more options for investors.

The most significant change to this series in its history perhaps came in 2016. After years of offering a 1 oz gold, 1 oz silver, and 1 Kilo silver option only, the Bavarian State Mint added 2 oz, 5 oz, and 10 oz silver coins to the series, as well as the first-ever fractional-ounce silver coins in the form of 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, and 1/10 oz silver. The gold series also gained new weights, most notably the unique 1/50 oz gold coin. 2016 also saw the increase in silver purity for the coins from .999 to .9999 pure silver, putting the Somalia Elephant on the same level as the Canadian Silver Maple Leaf and the newly introduced Australian Silver Kangaroo.

On the obverse of all Somalia Silver Elephant coins, you will find the image of the national coat of arms. This design includes a crowned shield with a background of horizontal lines and a single star at the center. It is supported on either side by leopards. The most notable feature of the Somalia Elephant Series is the use of a new reverse design element capturing the African bush elephant in a different relief each year.

Somalia Silver Elephant coins are also available in a wide variety of additional collectible options each year. These options include, but are not limited to, the following types of coins:

• Silver Elephant Privy Mark Coins: The most common example here is the use of Lunar Privy marks with the animal matching the date of issue on the coin.
• Gilded Silver Elephant Coins: Offered each year, these items have a thin layer of 24-karat gold applied only to the reverse design elements of the African bush elephant.
• Colorized Silver Elephant Coins: There are two ways to purchase the colorized coin. You can buy individual colorized coins with brilliant colorized lacquer on the reverse design, or you can buy the two-coin Day-and-Night Set. The set features the traditional colorized coin with an alternate nighttime colorization on a separate coin.
• Proof Sets: There are also Proof Somalia Silver Elephant Sets that combine various weights together in a collectible set, such as the 1 oz coin and its fractional-ounce counterparts.

Rwandan Silver

Rwanda is a nation that has a growing profile on the international stage when it comes to silver bullion coins. There are currently three different collections of Rwandan Silver available to investors and collectors. Each one offers its own brilliant designs and while some are long-running, others are planned only as short-term issues for commemorative purposes. The primary silver coin collections available from Rwanda include the following:

• Rwandan Wildlife: Similar in concept to the African Wildlife Series of Somalia Silver Elephants, the Rwandan Wildlife Series focuses on animal species native to the African continent. Unlike the Somalia Series, however, these coins offer a new animal species design with each release. Launched in 2008, the Rwandan Wildlife Series uses common elements of the Rwandan coat of arms on the obverse each year and an outline of the African continent on the reverse. The reverse field features a new animal species, typically in a family unit, in the lower-left field on the reverse with each new release.
• Rwandan Lunar Ounce: The 1 oz coins of the Rwandan Lunar Ounce Series started with the Year of the Rooster in 2017. Like other programs of its kind, the designs change each year on the reverse to reflect the animal sign featured on the Zodiac for that date mark. A common theme across this series is the use of a “shattered glass” effect on the background of the reverse field.
• Rwandan Nautical Ounce: Also offered as a 1 oz silver coin, the Rwandan Nautical Ounce Series celebrates some of the more monumental nautical voyages in human history. For better or worse, these voyages and the ships that carried the individuals on them changed the course of human history around the globe. The reverse of each coin depicts a different ship that carried explorers to newfound corners of the globe, while the obverse bears the Rwandan coat of arms.

The Rwandan Wildlife Series focuses on the production of silver bullion coins for investors. However, for each design in the Rwandan Lunar Ounce and Rwandan Nautical Ounce Series, you will also find low mintage proof issues available that have more impressive visuals and are packaged individually inside of presentation boxes.

Republic of Congo Silver

One of the newer nations to be represented in the silver bullion market on the African continent is the Republic of Congo. Its popular silver bullion series is produced courtesy of the Scottsdale Mint, a private facility in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA. The most prominent series for the Republic of Congo is the Silverback Gorilla collection.

This series of 1 oz silver coins debuted in 2015 and offers a new image of the Silverback Gorilla each year, while the opposite side of the coin boasts the national coat of arms for the Republic of Congo. The hallmark of this series is the use of new designs for the silverback each year. Notably, the Scottsdale Mint alternates each year in its depiction of the gorilla between the docile, peaceful creature portrayed in documentaries and the aggressive, protective beast it can be when its family troop is threatened.

Each release year includes a proof-like coin, with most mintages capped at 50,000 coins per date. The specimens are typically housed in individual plastic capsules or inside of sealed skinboards of five coins each. The BU, proof-like coin is not the only option though. This series also comes with colorized proofs each year that boast lower mintages and capture the silverback gorilla in its natural hues. Occasionally, the Scottsdale Mint also produces a 1 Kilo version of the coin.

The Republic of Congo was also represented in a one-time release of the African Lion coin. This series debuted in 2015 and was initially issued for the African nation of Burundi. However, after the 2015 release, the 2016 coin was shifted to the Republic of Congo for one year. In keeping with many other African coin designs, that coin included the national coat of arms on one side and, in this case, the African lion male and female hunting on the other side. Since 2017, the African Lion coin has been issued for the Republic of Chad instead.

Democratic Republic of Congo Silver

The most recent introduction of African Silver Coins is the World’s Wildlife Series from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The impressive new series focuses on the tallest living mammal in the world for its first release with the Giraffe showcased on the reverse side of the coins. While 1 oz silver bullion and proof versions of the coins are available in this new series, JM Bullion currently offers the collectible colorized and gilded BU versions of the coin:

• Gilded: The Gilded Congo Giraffe coin features a mature giraffe running along the steppes of the African plains with a beautiful layer of 24-karat gold covering the body of the Giraffe.
• Colorized: For the colorized release, a beautiful scene is captured as the entire reverse field is colorized. The trademark yellow-brown-and-white pattern of the giraffe’s coat is depicted as the magnificent creature hits full stride. The background is a mixture of reds, yellows, and oranges as the sun crests the horizon in the distant background.

Certified African Silver

For many of the popular African Silver Coin Series mentioned above, you will also find Certified African Silver Coins. These are specimens that have been submitted to either the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation or the Professional Coin Grading Service for certification. The coins are judged by the condition of the mint luster and strike of the design, as well as the presence or lack of detracting flaws in the designs and background fields. You are most likely to find coins with the following designations available from JM Bullion:

• Mint State/PF/PR 70: Perfect coins, each of these exhibits full, original mint luster and no detracting flaws.
• Mint State/PF/PR 69: Near-perfect coins, these specimens also have full, original mint luster with a maximum of two minor detracting flaws present. Those flaws are limited to minuscule contact marks or hairlines and located only outside the primary focal points.
• Early Release/First Strike: These coins arrived for grading within the first 30 days of issue by the respective mints.
• First Day of Issue: These items arrived within 24 hours of the mint’s release date.
• Ultra-cameo/Deep-cameo: Reserved for proof coins, this designation points to the presence of strong, frosted designs and deeply-mirrored, clear backgrounds.

Buying African Silver Coins from JM Bullion

JM Bullion customer service is available at 800-276-6508 to answer any questions you might have about these coins. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us online as well using our live chat and email address features.